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Rebecca Lewis – Yoga Teacher

Rebecca's Story
Yoga, Birth and Motherhood

Pure curiosity brought me to yoga at age sixteen. After trying several different yoga classes I found an inspiring yoga teacher who nurtured my young mind with peace and compassion. I knew I’d found the right teacher for me. I loved the physical elements of yoga and was inspired to learn about the philosophy behind this ancient art form. My studies of eastern philosophy at university helped me to gain greater understanding of eastern wisdom and deepened my commitment to yoga.

At the age of 23, I birthed my first child Max. To my delight I found the whole birthing process an empowering and transformational event. I felt strong and instinctive, and used my yoga practice by staying present with my breath, moving intuitively and trusting my body, toning natural birth sounds, and visualizing my baby’s journey to meet me. I met Max with utter joy and elation, a wonderful birth.  Giving birth to Max inspired me, empowered me and illuminated the beauty of birth and power of yoga in assisting the birthing journey. Yoga practice had proven to me to be indispensible in preparation for and during labour. I was certain that I wanted to make yoga an even bigger part of my life, and felt completely drawn to the idea of becoming a yoga teacher.

I kept practicing with my teacher but also decided to broaden my experience by trying other styles with many different yoga teachers. In-between classes, as Max slept or happily played, I dedicated the time to practicing yoga or reading about it.

Yoga helped me keep things in perspective during challenging times, especially those testing times as a new mother. Yoga truly helped me in my toughest hours – when I found out my son had a genetic condition that would impact the rest of his life. My husband and I were told very little, his condition was rare; one of a kind, and his development would be delayed to an unknown extent. 

A great amount of angst arose inside at the prospect of having to live without knowing what lay ahead for Max. Many desires and dreams I hadn’t even consciously realized that I held for his life seemed instantly dashed. I can truly say that during this time yoga was my saviour. My time on the mat was my time for nurturing myself – body mind and spirit - with compassion and love, letting go of worries with each conscious breath out, while inviting fresh vitality, optimism and acceptance with each breath in. Yoga helped me to stay with the bigger picture. Max’s precious existence helped me truly put into practice what I believe to be one of the greatest lessons of Yoga – Surrender expectations and focus on the moment; cherish each step along the way no matter how difficult or easy; be present Now, with hope, love and compassion for yourself and others.

Willow was born two years after Max (my second precious gift).  Her birth was also a wonderful and empowering yogic journey. After her first birthday, thanks to the support of family and friends, I was able to embark on two years of full time yoga teacher training at the CAE through the Australian Institute of Yoga Therapy.  This was an incredible journey under the guidance of a number of inspiring senior teachers from various yoga lineages.  I began to teach yoga in 2004 and have felt continually blessed to be sharing the art, science, philosophy and love of yoga with others.

In 2007 I furthered my yoga teacher training in New Zealand. I studied alongside the beautiful yoga teacher Allison Berry, under senior teachers Donna Farhi and Marcia Munro. A profound yoga training that transformed me once again. The training was made even more transformational by the discovery on the second last day that I was pregnant with my third child.

Once I got home, reality mixed with the hormones of early pregnancy ‘hit me’. It had been four and a half years since my last birth, since then Max had been diagnosed with severe autism and intellectual disability. Max and my daughter Willow demanded much of my time, and I wondered how I would cope with three children. Along with the severe nausea of 1st trimester I also experienced depression. Again it was yoga that kept me grounded and present. I practiced became very simple, whenever I had the chance, even if it was just for a minute, I would lie with my legs up the wall, stay conscious of my breath and make positive affirmations.

The fog of depression lifted alongside the nausea, and in 2nd trimester I started to feel better, optimistic and excited. As my energy levels lifted my yoga practice became more dynamic, and helped me to feel strong, self confident and even more energetic. My practise changed again in 3rd trimester, as I began to become much more focussed on preparing for birth. I spend a lot of rime in supported squats, and rested up as much as I could, and focussed on connecting with my baby.

I believe it was yoga and my brilliant birth support team that once again got me through the challenges of labour. I met Cadence in much the same way as my first two - with utter joy and elation. Once again, an inspiring and empowering event.

I came away from Cadence’s birth feeling truly drawn to help empower and inspire women with the practice of yoga. I feel blessed to be a woman, and in awe of the capacities of my body. I feel especially drawn to inspiring women and their partners to prepare for birth and parenthood with a sense of awe and optimism. Fellow yoga teacher Alison Berry and I have created Yoga Belly, www.yogabelly.com.au with this central focus. We believe that yoga practices combined with birthing education optimizes the chances of an informed, empowered and joyous labour and birth. The perfect gateway into parenthood!!

I can truly say that yoga is an integral part of my life. It has helped me in so very many ways. I see myself as an ongoing student of yoga, blessed to be able to share my passion with others through teaching what I love.

Namaste ...

Rebecca’s qualifications: Advanced Diploma of Yoga teaching (AIYT).Advanced Teacher Training (Donna Farhi NZ). Prenatal Yoga Teaching Certificate (Urban Yoga Canada). Member of YTAA and IAYT.

Ph:95847749 or mob: 0414546752  E-mail: beccylewis77@hotmail.com

Yoga Goddess – Yoga for Women/Prenatal

Thursdays 6-7.15pm

A gentle flowing feminine yoga class suitable and beautiful to all women

For Rebecca’s other classes and prenatal workshops:

www.yogabelly.com.au

Rebecca Lewis

Has been exploring yoga for more than 16 years and has been teaching since 2004.  She feels truly drawn to inspire and empower women with the practice of yoga.

“I feel blessed to be a woman, and in awe of the capacities of women, and truly believe that yoga has the power optimise our self confidence and leave us feeling comfortable in our skin”

“I am truly grateful to yoga for the inspiration towards health, vitality, compassion, insight, empathy, flexibily in mind and body, and for always pointing toward the joy of being present”

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